We’ve seen various renders of the upcoming Pixel 3 XL, but now we may have seen our first photo of the phone in the flesh – and it doesn’t make the best first impression.
Shared by a reader of MobileSyrup, the photo was apparently taken on a streetcar in Toronto, and it shows a phone with an enormous notch, by which we don’t just mean a wide notch, but one which sticks out into the screen more than we’ve been used to seeing.
This doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as the notch looks similarly large in renders we've seen, but it’s a lot more noticeable in this real-world shot. A notch this size also means that if you choose to hide it (by blacking out the screen to either side) the Pixel 3 XL will effectively have a massive bezel.
There’s not much else to take from the image, but you’ll note that there’s also a bezel below the screen, housing a speaker.
This could be our first real look at the Pixel 3 XL. Credit: MobileSyrup
Looks legit
While we can’t be certain that this is the Pixel 3 XL (especially since much of it is obscured by a case) it does seem to match up with leaked renders, and you can just about make out Android Pie’s gesture navigation at the bottom of the screen, which the Pixel 3 XL is sure to feature.
However, we’d still take this with a pinch of salt, especially since – as 9to5Google notes – the battery icon doesn’t appear to be in its normal Android position.
It’s also worth noting that, of the two main rumored Pixel 3 XL screen sizes, we’re probably looking at a 6.2-inch version rather than a 6.7-inch one, given the phone’s size relative to its user’s hands. That makes sense, as 6.7 inches always sounded a bit big to be true.
We should know everything for certain soon though, as the Pixel 3 XL will probably land in early October, alongside the standard Pixel 3.
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